In this MFL/French session, Dr Pierre Botcherby, Teaching Fellow in the School of Modern Languages at University of Warwick, will engage Languages students in an interactive talk on ‘Boule de Suif’ by Guy de Maupassant entitled Food for Thought: Honour and Dishonour in French Society in Boule de Suif.
March 12 @ 14:15 - 15:00
In this MFL/French session, Dr Pierre Botcherby, Teaching Fellow (French Studies) in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at University of Warwick, will engage Languages students in an interactive talk on ‘Boule de Suif’ by Guy de Maupassant entitled Food for Thought: Honour and Dishonour in French Society in Boule de Suif.
In this interactive session, Pierre will work with students to examine the picture of French society at the time of the 1870 Franco-Prussian war that Maupassant paints in Boule de Suif. One way he does this is by constructing characters who are caricatures of the different social classes or groups in France at that time, showing the readers that some are honourable and others are dishonourable. We’ll look at how he introduces them near the beginning of the novella and at key moments in the plot, centred on meals, where we see this honour and dishonour in action.
Before you attend the session, have a think about which characters you see as honourable and dishonourable; about whether you have a favourite one; and about what the meals the characters eat when travelling in the carriage tell us about their personalities.
The session will be led in English with regular reference to the French language and vocabulary relevant to the novella.
Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying, or with a possible interest in studying, French and related disciplines. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students are asked to think about which characters they see as honourable and dishonourable; about whether they have a favourite one; and about what the meals the characters eat when travelling in the carriage tell us about their personalities. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: